TIP stands for "Transportation Improvement Program" and it is a State sponsored program which provides funding for very specific transportation and highway projects. We have managed to survive the cuts and the town center improvement (not including the underground wires) will be funded by this source. Actually, we just got switched in the last few weeks and will be receiving a Federal Grant rather than continuing to be subjected to the foibles of the state. This is the program that is on the map at Town Hall and on the cover of the Town Report (if you don't have a copy of the 2002 Town Report, pick one up at Town Hall). Most other states have TIP programs as well so it is not unique to Massachusetts.This is the program that is planning two 'roundabouts' for the town center. Unlike what was suggested by the postings on Norfolknet, these are not comparable to the bridge rotary on the Cape. My experience with these in Europe indicate that they are very efficient traffic movers. I have encountered them in Ireland, the UK, Spain, and France. If the state didn't accept the roundabout proposal, the alternative for Norfolk would have been to expand the roadways at these intersections to accommodate a third, turning lane. This would have involved land taking which is virtually impractical at the Federated Church and other side locations. It also would have destroyed the small town character of our town center. The state accepted the roundabout concept with flying colors. We would not have gotten the $2.1 million grant unless the state approved the plans.
If [the roundabouts] don't work, the intersections could be easily converted back to two lane (not three lane) intersections without giving back the $2.1 million for the other improvements.
This project is scheduled to start in the Fall after we complete the underground wire changes and the water pipe replacements which are occurring right now in Town Center.
The Kid's Place project is a drainage project for town center. It has been planned for three years. It has been spoken about many times at our Selectmen's meeting with Butch over this time frame. This will be for storm drainage in the town center area and will also allow us to accept water from some commercial properties. This will enable continued commercial development in the center. Borelli's properties are not included in the scope of this work, in case someone asks.
This is a key component of our plan to extend Boardman Street to the Railroad tracks and then, hopefully, bridge the tracks to the MBTA property. This will provide easy ingress and egress to the commuters without diverting them towards the town center. This plan is still in the formative stages though.